“Supergirl” Episode Review – S04E06 “Call to Action”

Check out his review of the fifth episode of Season 4 in which everyone gathers for Thanksgiving but Kara (Melissa Benoist) is feeling down after her televised debate with Ben Lockwood (Sam Witwer) about the anti-alien sentiment coursing through National City. Meanwhile, James (Mehcad Brooks) and Lena (Katie McGrath) argue about the best way to handle the Children of Liberty.

There were a lot of sub-plots bubbling in the background during the course of this episode and it is a testament to the writers for keeping all of the stories straight. I thought this season was going to be haphazard with its episodes, but this installment was stronger than last week’s strong entry into the season and kept me guessing throughout the running time.

Manchester Black is turning into a pleasant surprise. I was not overly fond of the character in the comics, but David Ajala is doing a great job of making him just sympathetic and even slightly heroic enough to like so you can not so much accept the fact that he had a man tied up in his bathroom and that he was torturing said man because you understand why he’s doing it. The moment he went from hand to hand combat to shooting the Children of Liberty was another scene where the worm should have turned but it didn’t.

I am so happy that they are giving Machad Brooks something substantial to do this season. The fact that he tried to talk to Tom and get him to stop the violence was perfect for the character. His tension with Lena is also being handled well. I’m pulling for them but at the same time I understand where both characters are coming from. The cliffhanger scene of him being taken was one of the better parts of the end scene.

Speaking of Lena, her evolution is being paced just right. It’s not that she just one day woke up and said, “Humans need to have super-powers.” It’s the result of everything that has been happening this season and in this episode in particular. We’re seeing the anti-alien sentiment getting ratcheted up and now people are taking to the streets. Lena’s reaction of, “aliens are going to start to fight back,” might not be the right one but it makes for good drama and feels organic to the character.

It was nice seeing Helen Slater, however briefly. To be honest I thought Eliza was being a bit pushy with Nia, but that could just be me.

Sam Witwer continues to be the MVP of this season. His ability to go from somewhat freaking out to being cold to having a loving home life continues to impress me. Once again I don’t agree with him but I can see where others might. The scene where he brings up what happened to the Native Americans after the first Thanksgiving (which may or may not have happened the way we in the States have been historically taught) was a bold move by the writers but a good one, because it makes Ben’s racist point for him.

(Insert usual complaint about Agent Liberty being a bad guy.)

The rest of the cast had some strong moments as well. Kara going on television was a great way to get her in a scene with Ben and the fact that it ended like it did felt real. J’onn continues to be a solid supporting character and I like the relationship he has with Manchester. Brainy’s fight scene was so much fun and the line, “I will have to beat you up…with physics,” got a laugh out of me. The scene at the end with Alex, Kara and J’onn talking about their situation also felt real and I like that things are going to get worse before they get better. Colonel Haley continues to be a bit of a puzzle, but at least she brought sweet potato pie for her people, though pumpkin pie is way better.

And Supergirl fought a dragon and it wasn’t stupid and looked amazing.

Well not bad!! Maybe one of the better episodes so far. Think the woman with the sleep disorder “may” have a bigger role in something. There is one commonality that I’m seeing this season. And that’s the fairly subtle way that they’re showing Supergirl’s powers. Her flight scenes are pretty tame and one dimensional. Plus so far more of a drama orientated plot. When it’s good, it is. So as hard as I’ve been this season with the grades, I’m giving this episode a 4 out of 5!!